Mike Tomlin: Sean Spence will “have a full recovery” from knee injury

Posted by Mike Wilkening on May 4, 2013, 8:18 PM EDT

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Last week, Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler suggested Sean Spence, the club’s 2012 third-round pick, might never play again after suffering a serious knee injury last summer, with Butler saying it would be “miraculous” if Spence were to come back in 2013 or 2014.

However, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Saturday he’s optimistic about the prospect of a return for Spence.

“I did hear the opinion regarding Spence,” Tomlin said, according to the Steelers. “My opinion differs. I think he’s going to have a full recovery, but now you have two opinions, neither of which are expert medical opinions. Do with it what you wish.”

In his remarks last week, Butler called Spence a “great kid” who merited an opportunity to stay with the club as he worked to return to the field, and Butler also expressed some hope that Spence could possibly return.

“He’s not only a very intelligent football player but he is going to provide some intangibles in our locker room that we desperately need, I think,” Butler said, according a transcript from the club. “We’re going to ride with him for another year, I think. Hopefully his knee will respond and he can play again.”

This much is clear: the Steelers would very much like Spence to make a comeback, and they believe there is value to having him around the club. On Saturday, Tomlin noted that the injury rehabilitation for Spence, tight end Heath Miller (knee) and Marcus Gilbert (ankle) “is going according to plan.”

This is simply Tomlin and the organization trying to keep everything in house. Wait, its out isn’t it? Now it isn’t.

This keeps other teams and the media guessing as to what the real prospects are for Spence, and the teams plans at the linebacker position. One thing that Steelers have done well over the years, is ensuring that all cards are played close to the vest. Think about it, what have you heard about Heath Miller? Nothing. Butler made a mistake and Tomlin is cleaning it up.

Its the peroneal nerve in the knee plus ACL and other stuff. Do a search on “peroneal Sean spence” and you’ll get an article. A RB had it, took years to recover but his career was all but over. Apparently Colbert said the same thing back in Feb that Butler said in April. Really sucks to have a huge future in danger.

Spence may have been the single most important pick the Steelers have made in several years and was right on schedule to step into Farrior’s shoes only with a LOT more speed and similar intelligence and determination.

If he isn’t able to recover I , as a diehard Steelers fan, hate to admit that we will have a GREAT deal of trouble filling that spot.

There were a couple guys in this draft but the FO ignored who might have been able to fill in…

This will be a sink-or-swim year in SteelersNation- 10-6 or 6-10 imho.

I’m a big Mike Tomlin fan, but I seem to have forgotten where he went to med school …

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He went to the same med school Keith Butler attended–as Mike pointed out in his comment. Butler’s the one who had no business publicly writing off Spence when the kid is working his heart out trying to rehab. As Tomlin said, they should leave the prognosticating to the medical professionals–although doctors aren’t gods, either.